Just watched the highlights from last week and hope we can produce something similar. we are in a spot where we need to keep winning. Last time we played Everton we were both on a very poor run of form. Now things are turning around for both of us. We are now 6 games unbeaten and Everton are not doing too bad themselves. Cahill, fellaini and arteta are all back in the squad and although arteta is still are slighty rusty the first two are in great form at the minute. That is something we will have to ne aware of tomorrow.
Personally I hope we play skretel against cahill on the set pieces. He has got the pace and combatative nature to deal with cahill if he stays focused. That is the key with martin tho. He can loose focus at times.
So here is my squad that I hope we play tomorrow. Reina, carra (hope he is at right back but if agger is still injured it would be great if Kelly got a start or degen was given another chance), agger, skretel, insua
Maxi Rodriguez, Mascherano, Aquilani, Riera
Kuyt and Gerrard.
NGog in for maxi works as well (and then subbed with either kuyt or gerrard would also work)
same with Aurelio as a straight swap for Riera
or Lucas for Aquilani.
Personally, I am scared that Kyriakos is going to start and lucas as well.
I just think the Agger and Aquilani in those positions just provide that little bit of extra quality that might just open Everton up or make the difference. Agger in terms of long range finish, calmness on the ball and decent passing range and Aquilani in form of superior technique and finess.
Since Alberto has started getting games I have been impressed with his defensive game and arial ability too. I had no idea he tackled quite a bit and the header he won on the back post to head back in for Kuyts goal definitely is something I would like to see more of. I think Aquilani poses much more of a goal threat than Lucas does and we have seen time and time again how Lucas just seems to time his headers wrong.
Saying that he played extremely well when he came in against bolton last week. He is more of a defensive midfielder though and does not have the creativity and invention to open teams up. He works hard and can turn into a great defensive midfielder but unless Mascherano keeps his accuracy of passing like it was in the last game I think we are better served with Aquilani or Gerrard complementing Mascherano and having Lucas play when others need rest.
I was quite surprised that we did not take action in the transfer window. Benitez again brought in money that it seems he was not allowed to spend. He could have brought in another 9m on Babel but it was kinda nice that he didnt let him go.
I think this is signs that we are starting to see Rafa being able to have more control over transfers... we will not let Babel go until we get what we paid for him. I have read conflicting figures but I believe the number was £10.5m.
anyhow, I think it was a good move to keep him as I think he will become great if we start giving him confidence and a run of games in the squad. Much like Lucas Insua Rafa should have done this already however there has been some rumors that Babel has has had some run ins with the boss. The gossip reports have allegedly seen Mr. Bubble (As a good friend of mine likes to call him) sleep in when he should have been at practice and not many weeks ago he was furious and stormed out of Anfield after being left out of the squad for a not so important game.
These are just signs of his immaturity and hopefully he can get his head down, impress the boss and get more chances to develop the enormous potential he has.
what i was trying to get to earlier was that I think we should have signed a striker in the previous window. I know we tried to manufacture a loan move for kenwyn jones but you wonder what benitez was doing considering he is probably Sunderlands second best striker...
Why would they let him go? We would have been much better going after Aruna Dindane at struggling Pompey or alternatively Benjani that could not get a game at City. Both have goals in them and Dindane could have been available for the money we brought in in the tranfer window.
Still the person I personally mostly would have liked us to sign in this window was Pavlyochenko. He showed in the first leg against Leeds that he is an amazing striker and has quality and goals in abundance. Yes, he might cost around £10m but that is what one has to pay to get a top quality striker that is going to score more than 15 goals in the PL today I think... if not one are taking a chance.
David Ngog has done well but there is no denying he is still slightly unfinished. IF we were crusing in the league or had carling cup to play for I would be all for developing him but truth is we need points badly and we as fans would love to see a trophy this season... even if we would have to settle for a Europa League trophy...
The reason I would not like Kyriakos to play tomorrow is simply because he does not have pace. Yes it is going to be a physical encounter which one would think would suit Kyriakos' game but with Saha and possibly Yakubu up top or even with Cahill sprinting through in the middle pace would be of the essence.
another threat that has been in great form of late is Steven Pienaar. What a player he is. The south African will be great to watch in the summer.
One could only wish that Rafa had the same knack in the transfer window as David Moyes does.
anyways... not many hours to the game now so will leave it at this...
maybe we will see a glimpse of Pachecho tomorrow as well...
YNWA,
Stian
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